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[THE HANGOVER] The One Where We Discuss 4 Rays In The All-Star Game
Ben Zobrist, Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena, Evan Longoria, JP Howell, Jason Bartlett July 6th. 2009, 7:38am
click above image for boxscore
No GBT today, enjoy the off-day…
SUNBURST PLAYER OF THE GAME: Evan Longoria. An RBI and some good glovework.
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
- Evan Longoria was voted to start for the American League in the all-star game. Carl Crawford and Jason Bartlett were selected by the players and Ben Zobrist was chosen by manager Joe Maddon. [St. Pete Times]
- Carlos Pena is one of 5 finalists for the final spot on the AL All-Star team. Follow this link to vote. [MLB]
- Marc Topkin has quotes from each of the Rays all-stars on being selected. [The Heater]
- Joe Maddon said that he considers JP Howell an all-star, but that it was “about numbers.” Maddon added that there is still a chance if somebody else can’t play indicating that Howell is basically an alternate at this point. [Tampa Tribune]
- Evan Longoria does not want to participate in the home run derby this year. [St. Pete Times]
- Joe Maddon will get one more chance to manage Edwin Jackson, as Jackson was selected for the all-star game. [Detroit Free-Press]
- Joe Maddon is garnering a lot of respect from Red Sox Nation today for his selection of Tim Wakefield to the AL all-star team. [Fenway West]
- Joe Henderson says there is something missing from this Rays squad and unlike last year, this team is much better on paper than they are on the field. [Tampa Tribune]
- Rays All Day has a nice post taking our old friend Patrick Reusse to task for his recent hindsight column on the Twins-Rays trade. [Rays All Day]
- Rays Revolutionary also has a few choice words for Patrick Reusse. [Rays Revolutionary]
Re: Reusse
I just want to go on the record saying that it’s too early to judge the E-Jax trade for Matt Joyce. Even though Jackson is having a bigger impact on the Tigers, than Joyce is for the Rays… I still say that the Rays had no intention of him cracking the starting line-up this year. They’ve still got some things they want him to work out before he becomes an every day player for the Rays. I suspect that Joyce will have a more long-term impact for the Rays than E-Jax will for the Tigers.
Also, Rays fans, don’t think this is the last time the Rays will make a trade that on the surface looks bad, but works out in the future. To stay competitive the Rays are going to have to continue to trade current commodities for future commodities. That means we will see players that have great seasons after leaving the Rays while we wait for some future guy to emerge.
Looking forward to the possibility of Edwin coming in to strike out the side in the All Star game with Maddon looking on with that stupid blank face….
The facts are: Detroit is doing much better with EJ….and the Rays are worse off without him!
Waiting for Joyce to develope (if ever) does nothing for the Rays this year…could cost them a chance for the playoffs…
Go Edwin, you ARE an “All Star” that should be pitching for the Rays!
Don, let me ask you this: How many wins do you think E-jax would be worth to the Rays this year? Because last time I checked the Tigers and Rays have the same amount. Did Jackson really make that much of a swing? Do you think the Rays would be winning the division with E-jax going every fifth day instead of Niemann?
Buy low, Sell high. That’s what the Rays have to do to keep competitive in this division. Get used to it. E-jax wasn’t the first and he won’t be the last. The Rays have to keep that pipeline going to remain competitive year in and year out.
I keep hearing about the future, the pipeline, get use to “give away” trades….Sorry….
Guess I’m different in thinking when you surround yourself with the best talent available to YOU…they should not be lost… unless you get something of equal or greater value…”Buy low, Sell High” is ok for the used car business ….but in baseball give me proven talent!!!
more on the future, I guess the Rays just signed Cesar Perez a Venezuelan third baseman for $1 mil. I don’t know much about him but I’ve heard he’s a phenom. I don’t know what you guys have heard about this, but it sounds like a good move, he’s only 16.
Were excited to sign a 16 y.o. to play 3rd base in 2035 when Longoria is in a wheel chair….
he’s 16 that means there’s plenty of time to get him to play a new position, like say 2b or even 1st base in a few years when Pena is gone. I don’t know this kid well enough to predict a new position but I’m sure the Rays saw some versatility with this kid.